Plastic window frame



y 1956 c. F. STRAWTHER PLASTIC WINDOW FRAME s Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April27, 1955 P 1 E 5 T nf m L M4 E w E M a m: A 3 M. .I WM J M 4 Wu P W H W3 4/1! ".1 f A W7. a h, A We, 5% r- T W 3 y 3 m" :EIE l July 10, 1956 C.F. STRAWTHER PLASTIC WINDOW FRAME 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 27, 1955IN VEN TOR. UHA/PLEs E 5764 wmm BY 7/ Ma ZJVArmPA/E V5 TIIE IEII H July10, 1956 Filed April 27, 1953 :E'II5 E- C. F. STRAWTH ER PLASTIC WINDOWFRAME FIE- 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 /o a f nL-sa IN V EN TOR. Srmwmm 4%ATTORNEYS PLASTIC WINDOW FRAME Charles F. Strawther, Los Gatos, Calif.,assignor of onehalf to Russell E. Longnecker, Los Gatos, Calif.

Application April 27, 1953, Serial No. 351,177

2 Claims. (Cl. 20-11) The present invention relates to windowstructures, and pertains more particularly to a plastic window frame andsash.

The invention provides an inexpensive, simple window frame and sashstructure of plastic material which may be mounted as a unit in asuitably framed opening provided therefor in a building structure.

The invention also provides a strong, rigid window structure of plasticmaterial having a wooden core element embedded therein to stiffen andstrengthen the structure.

A further object of the invention is to provide a plastic window framestructure of rectangular box section having flanges extending therefromat predetermined angles to facilitate mounting the frame in a windowopening and to provide reinforcement and stiffening for tl e box sectionportion of the frame.

It also is an object of the invention to provide a window framestructure and a separately made sill for adhesive attachment to a lowerrun of the frame, thereby to produce a substantially unitary frame andsill structure.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved coringarrangement for use in the manufacture of plastic window frames.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a corestructure for use in the molding of plastic window frames whichfacilitates the molding of an entire window frame in a single operation.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparentfrom the following description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a vertical transverse sectional view through a window frameand sash embodying the invention, the parts being shown as they wouldappear mounted in a frame type of building structure, portions beingbroken away to increase the scale of the drawing.

Fig. 2 is a vertical, longitudinal sectional view in re duced scale of awindow frame with both removable and permanent core members embeddedtherein, portions being broken away.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of a modified type of frame fromthat illustrated in Fig. 2, the core being of a type which remainsembedded in the window frame after the molding process has beencompleted.

Fig. 3A is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the coreless construction ofFig. 2 after the core openings are sealed ofi'.

Fig. 4- is a fragmentary elevational view of portions of the sash andframe having the locking handle and latch hook mounted thereon as theywould appear look" ing in the direction of the arrows 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an elevational view in reduced scale of the exterior side ofthe window frame illustrated in Fig. i.

Fig. 6 is a similarly reduced elevational view of the exterior side ofthe sash for mounting in the window frame illustrated in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view in reduced scale taken along line 7--7 ofFig. 1, portions being broken away.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional view similar to the lefthand portion ofFig. 7 shoWing the hinge structure of the sash and frame illustratedtherein, the sash being shown in closed position in solid lines and inopen position in broken lines.

Referring to the drawings in detail, a complete window structure Acomprises a frame B and a sash C hingedly mounted thereon. The frame Bcomprises a rectangular marginal frame portion 10 of box sectional shapehaving a marginal nailing flange 11 formed integrally therewith, andco-extensive with the interior side: of the box sectional frame portion1i Nail holes 12 are provided at desired intervals throughout the lengthof the marginal nailing flange 11.

A thickened flange portion 13 is also .formed integrally with the boxsectional frame portion lit. The flange 13 is coextensive with the wall14 of the box sectional portion It) to extend into a framed opening 15in the build ing structure provided to receive the window A. A sash stopflange 17 (Figs. 1, 2, 5, 7 and 8) is provided entirely around the sashopening 1% in the frame B to act as a stop for the sash C hingedlymounted in the frame B in a manner to be described later herein.

A drip lip 2t? (Fig. l) is formed integrally with the bottom of the boxsectional portion it which extends across the bottom of the windowframe. This drip lip 2i is provided to carry rain or other water flowingdownwardly over the window outwardly beyond the exterior surface of thebuilding wall D in which the window is mounted.

A mullion 21 (Figs. 2, 5 and 7) divides the frame B into two openings,the sash opening 18 and a second opening 22. The mullion Z1 is of boxsectional shape with a sash stop flange 23 extending into the sashopening 18 and a glazing flange 24 extending into the opening 22. Themullion 21 preferably is formed with a rectangular wooden core strip 25(Fig. 2) molded permanently therein. This core strip 25 greatlyincreases the strength and rigidity of the mullion and also improves andsimplifies the molding procedure for the frame B as will be brought outlater herein.

A sill 27 (Fig. 1) of plastic material preferably is formed separatelyfrom the plastic window frame B. The sill 27 may be attached to theframe B after the frame i3 is mounted in the building wall D by means ofsuitable plastic adhesive of any of a number of well known types. Thesill 2'7 preferably is placed after the interior of the building hasbeen plastered, or finished, as the case may be, with suitable materialsuch as plasterboard 28.

A pair of hinge support arms 29, 2% are formed integrally with the frameB to extend outwardly from one side of the sash opening therein. Thesash C is provided with a corresponding pair of hinge arms 30, 30 (Figs.1, 7 and 8). The sash hinge arms 30, 3t) are formed to register with theframe hinge arms 29, 2% when the sash is closed as shown in Figs. 1 and7 and in solid lines in Fig. 8. The sash C has a marginal frame portion31 of box sectional shape (Fig. 1). This box sectional frame portion 31of the sash C may be reinforced by wooden core strips 34 permanentlymolded in place during the molding of the sash C in the same manner asthat described previously herein for the window frame B.

The sash C has a glazing flange 32 (Figs. 1 and 8) formed entirelyaround the interior marginal edge of the box section frame portion 31.

For locking the sash C in closed position, a pair of inwardly extendinglatch hooks 33, 33 (Figs. 1, 4 and 6) are formed on the interior face ofthe stile 35 of the sash C on its free edge. A pair of slotted openings37, 37 (Figs. 1, 4 and 5) are provided in the mullion flange 23 of theframe B to register with and receive the hooks 33, 33 when the sash isclosed;

A pair of cam locking handles 38, 33 are pivotally mounted upon theinterior face of the mullion 21 (Figs. 1, 4 and 7). Each locking .handleis provided with a cam-shaped nose 3? (Figs. 1 and 4) which may be swungto enter a notch 40 in the side of its associated locking hook 33 todraw the sash C tightly inwardly against the mullion flange 23 and stopflange 37 on the frame B. If desired, conventional types of casementactuating hardware, not illustrated, may be provided to control theopening and closing of the sash C and to hold it in adjusted position.

In mounting the window A in a building structure, the usual windowopening 15 in the building wall D (Fig. l) is framed in with usualheaders 42, 42 above and below the opening, respectively. The height ofthe opening 15 should be suflicient to receive the thickened flange '13of the frame B as explained previously herein, plus a strip 43 (Fig. 1)of the interior finishing material. The marginal flange 11 seats fiat onthe exterior faces of the members 42, 42 which frame the opening 15.With the window frame B mounted in the building opening 15' as shown inFig. 1, nails 44, 4d are driven through the holes 12 provided thereforin the laterally extending flange 11 and into the building structure.

In the event that any low spots are found in the scating surface for themarginal nailing flange ll, they may be trued up by the insertion ofshims, not shown, between the window frame and the framing members 42,42 in a conventional manner.

Suitable material for molding the window structures of the presentinvention comprises unsaturated polyester with monomer styrene. Forproviding additional strength in the finished product, it is alsodesirable to incorporate glass fibers in the finished product. This canbe done in accordance with well known molding practice, for example, bylining the mold with glass fibers before injecting the plastic moldingmaterial therein.

If desired, windows of most sizes, other than the large view typewindows, may be shipped and mounted in fully glazed condition and withthe sash C hingedly mounted therein. This is due to the fact that theoverall weight of the complete plastic window assembly A, even whenfully glazed, is not excessive. This is a double advantage since itpermits the glazing to be done at the factory with resultant savings inultimate costs and adds greatly to the rigidity of the window whichinsures proper alignment and operation of the window when mounted.

After the window A has been mounted in the window opening 15 asdescribed previously herein, usual sheathing material 45' (Fig. 1) maybe nailed in place. In the illustration of Fig. 1, this sheathingmaterial is con ventional'panel-board commonly used for this purpose.The exterior finish material, such as wooden siding 47 (Fig. '1) thenmay be applied in a conventional manner over the sheathing 45.

For making the hollow type of window construction shown in Figs. 2, 7and 8, elongated core members 50 (Fig. 2) of rectangular cross sectionalshape are secured together in end-to-side abutting relation by means ofelongated bolts 51 to form a rectangular core 59a. The bolts 51 areinserted in holes provided therefor lengthwis'e of the core members 5i)and are screwed into threaded holes 52 provided therefor in the sides ofthe 'core members against which the ends of the respective core membersabut to draw the core members into tightly abutting relation.

The end of each core member 5t opposite that which abuts against theside of its adjacent core member extends outwardly as at 53 beyond thebox-frame portion of the window frame B or sash C in which th coremembers 50 of appropriate size are embedded during molding. The sides ofthe core members 50 are smoothly finished so as to facilitate thewithdrawal of these members endwise from the frame or sash when it ismolded. These core members preferably are tapered slightly toward theirabutting ends to provide the necessary draft to facilitate theirwithdrawal from the molded product.

After the frame B or sash C has been molded, and the core members 50have been withdrawn, the openings through which the core members werewithdrawn are sealed '(Fig. 3A) by fitting pieces 55 of plastic materialinto these openings, and adhesively securing these pieces in positiontherein.

In the modified structure shown in Fig. 3, wooden core strips 34, 34 aresecured together at their corners as by screws 57 and are moldedpermanently into the window or sash structure, as shown in Figs. 1 and3. This wooden core type of construction is much stronger and more rigidthan the hollow come type shown in Figs. 2, 7 and 8 and is especiallydesirable for the larger sizes of windows.

Regardless of whether the frame B is of the hollow .or solid core type,if it has .a mullion 21 therein (Figs. 2 and 7) the mullion preferablyis reinforced with a wooden core strip 25 embedded permanently therein.

The plastic window of the present invention can be quickly and easilymolded as a complete unit in a very simple manner. Any desired color ofplastic may be used, and the window will retain this color indefinitely.However, if desired, the window may be painted to match the generalcolor scheme of the building in which it is mounted.

The complete sash and frame structure for the smaller and medium sizewindows which are most commonly used in residences or for individualoffices in oflice buildings can be made for a material cost of a fewdollars apiece. The molding costs also are low, since the molds used areof simple, straight-line conformation and the draws, except for thecores 50, are all short and on straight surfaces. A minimum amount ofsimple coring is required for making the hollow type structure shown inFigs. 2, 7 and 8, while in the wooden core structure shown in Figs. 1and 3 no core removal at all is required.

While I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention, it will be understood, however, that various changesand modifications may be made in the details thereof without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appendedclaims.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire toprotect by Letters Patent is defined in the following claims.

1. A plastic window structure comprising an integrally molded plasticwindow frame having a marginal frame 'portion of box sectional shape andrectangular configuration for fitting onto the marginal planiform faceof a building around a window opening therein, a marginal plasticnailing flange molded integrally with the frame portion and co-planarwith the interior face of said box section portion of the window frameto overlie an additional portion of the marginal building face forsecuring the frame to the building, a plastic drip flange integral withthe lower run of the box section frame portion and extending exteriorlytherefrom, and a plastic sash seat comprising a marginal flange moldedintegrally with the frame portion and formed to extend interiorly fromthe centrally inward face of the box section portion of the window frameand thence centrally inward into the frame in a plane substantiallyparallel to the nailing flange.

2. A plastic window structure comprising an integrally molded plasticWindow frame having a frame portion of box sectional shape andrectangular configuration for fitting onto the marginal planiform faceof a building around a Window opening therein, a marginal plasticnailing flange molded integrally with the frame portion and co-planarWith the interior face of said box section portion of the Window frameto overlie an additional portion of the marginal building face forsecuring the frame to the building, a plastic drip flange integral withthe lower run of the box section frame and extending exteriorlytherefrom, a plastic mullion of box sectional shape molded integrallywith the Window frame, a Wooden strip filling the box sectional mullionand extending into the window frame, and a plastic sash seat comprisinga marginal flange formed to extend interiorly from the centrally inwardface of the box section portion of the Window frame and thence centrallyinward into the frame in a plane substantially parallel to the nailingflange, said sash seat being integral with the box section portion ofthe window frame.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,228,161 Anderson May 29, 1917 1,307,822 Kling June 24, 1919 1,840,221Bridges Jan. 5, 1932 1,995,233 Triller Mar. 19, 1935 2,047,937 Bohn etal July 21, 1936 2,198,436 Hoffman Apr. 23, 1940 2,200,568 Weedon May14, 1940 2,367,610 Randall Jan. 16, 1945 2,687,557 Ribaudo Aug. 31, 1954

